Lester H. Lee, Sr.

Lester H. Lee, Sr., passed away December 28, 2021 in Baton Rouge, LA with his family by his side. He was born in Natchitoches on October 11, 1943, to parents Eleanor Hughes Lee Wertelaers and Edmond Anderson Lee. He was a selfless, kind-hearted, genuine man with a charismatic personality and an amazing smile. His family was his greatest joy and he loved spending time with his wife, children and grandchildren. Lester loved the St. Louis Cardinals and enjoyed traveling to St. Louis and Houston with his family to watch the Cardinals play. He graduated in 1961 from St. Mary’s High School where he participated in multiple sports. He went on to attend Northwestern State University where he received a basketball scholarship his last three years and was recently named a member of the "Fantastic 50" on NSU's All-Century Demon Basketball Team. He earned his degree in Education with a minor in Kinesiology and later earned his Master’s +30. Known by many as Coach Lee, he was a principal, teacher and high school basketball coach at many high schools in and around Natchitoches Parish for over 30 years. He retired from the school system and accepted a position as Human Resource Manager at the Louisiana Co-op Electric Member, Valley Electric, where he enjoyed serving the public and made life-long friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Ann Lee Alford. Lester is survived by his lifelong sweetheart and wife of 55 years, Marietta Baker Lee; children, Tracy Lee Daily and husband, David; Lester H. Lee, Jr. and wife, Kelly; Jennifer Lee Coburn and husband, Chad; Michael J. Lee and wife, Erin, Stephen A. Lee and wife, Jessica; grandchildren, Drayton Daily, Drake Daily, Katelyn Coburn, Annabelle Daily, Emily Coburn, Mary Kate Lee, Matthew Lee, Luke Lee, Paige Lee and Ava Lee; brothers, Edmond Lee and wife, Henriellen; Randy Lee and wife, Lydia; sisters-in-laws, Anne Baker and Ellen Baker; brother-in-law Sandy McNeely; as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins. He was a man of faith and devout Catholic. He was a lifelong Parishioner of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church where he served as Director of RCIA and CCD, Lector, Eucharistic Minister, and a member of the Knights of Columbus. Special thanks to the staff and nurses at Magnolia Brook in Baton Rouge, LA. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 2 pm Monday, January 3, 2022 at the Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church with Rev. Louis Sklar serving as celebrant. Burial will follow at Catholic Cemetery in Natchitoches. The family will receive friends from 11 am until 1:40 pm on January the 3rd at Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home. A time for remarks and remembrance, for a life well lived, will begin at 1:20 pm in the funeral home chapel. Those honored to serve as pallbearers include Lester Lee, Jr., Michael Lee, Stephen Lee, Matthew Lee, David Daily, Drayton Daily, Drake Daily, and Chad Coburn. Honorary pallbearers will be Buddy Giering, Edmond Lee, Randy Lee, Francis Vienne, Jessie Hoffpauir, Daine Wirt, and Sandy McNeely.